Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-28

born. THESE were joel S. now settled in
the ministry at Traer, Iowa Sarah I Mrs
JohnsonJ now 81 West Rutland Asahe
H., who died at his brothers in Brattle-
boro in ISL, and benjamin Franklin.
Mr.. Bnghams hoyhood was ike that of
all farmers boys. He helped in the farm
work as he grew up and got has early educa-
ton in the public srhupls His brother. joel
). followed teaching before entering the min
istry, and Benz f. attended for three years
the academy taught 10y him at Ferrisburg
and for the two years following similar
school taught by him at Shelburne Mr.
Bingham taught his first school when "A boy
Of Is. Up to this time he had had no
thought Of becoming teacher, his purpose
being simply to obtain such an education AS
the opportunities at his command afforded.
But after the conclusion of the examna.
tions which closed the fall term of his
brothers school at Ferrisburg in 1912
gray headed man from Charlotte, who had
attended the examinations, came to him
and told him he wanted him 10 teach the
winter school in that place, The young
man replied that he didn't think he knew
enough to teach it, 80 Il will risk that if
you will cry il, was the old mans answer,
and the result was that young Bingham en-
gagged himself and taught successful term.
He also taught the same school the following
winter.
Mr.. Bingham was married in 1916 to
Frances Elizabeth Pease, who has ever
since been his faithful helpmeet and a
friend Of every good work in the commun-
tiles in which she and her husband have
lived. For three years following his mar
riage Mr. Bingham taught select school in
the fall and winter in Charlotte. From
this he went back to the home farm and as
stunned its management, but for five or six
years he taught the fall and winter terms
of the village schoo! in Cornwall During
this time he was not without public honors,
for in 1870 he was chosen town clerk and
was elected selectman in 1851, 50, aud
90 beng chairman of the board the latter
year.
His reputation as a teacher of rare abl-
ity gradually went abroad, and il was in
the year 1856, while engaged in the alter
nate work of teaching and farming, that
two gentlemen from West Rutland came
To visit him and persuaded him to under
take the charge of the select school in that
place. His work there continued some
eight years and was very successful There
was a decided objection tn the position,
however, from the fact that the school was
supported in part by public funds and in
| part by buttons, and in consequence the
means of its support We're more or less pre-
carluus For this reason Mr., Bingham fin
ally let it be known to his warm personal
/ friend, the late j. 5. Adams, the we'll
/ known, faithful and competent secretary
/ of the state board of education, that he
/ was ready to accept position in some one
of the graded schools of the state if one
should offer. Mr.. Adams was in Brattlc-
boro when he received Mr.. Binghams let
ter and met on the street Chas. l.. Mead
who asked him if he could not recommend
some one TO teach the High school Mr.
Adams told him of Mr.. Bingham with a
cordial recommendation. The result was
that Mr.. Bingham was written to by the
committee and asked 10 come to Brattle-
boro for a consultation This was early in
April, 1868, after the annual school meet
ing was held. The prudential committee of
that year were Dea. A. Il. Dwinell, Dea.
Geo. Newman and Horace Hastings with
the Rev. Addison Brown as advisory com
mittee, Mr., Bingham came down by the
afternoon train at an early day and was
met at the station by one of the committee
who took him 10 The Vermont Phoenix Of
flee, Mr. Brown being then the editor of
the paper aud its location being the same
then as now. Here a consultation was held
with the committee and at its close Mr.
Bingham was told that the committee would
consider the matter and let him know in
the morning. Late that evening Mr. Bing-